Loosing the moment.

As a birder foremost i find the current trend for people taking images of rare birds disturbing. So many dont seem to care about the welfare of the bird, only getting an image is priority.

It got me thinking, as digital has made taking an image so much easier, are we in danger of loosing the moment. Are our priorities to record an image overtaking the enjoyment of the moment. Can we still enjoy the moment without the need to look through a lens, a birthday, wedding ,child's first steps, do we lose something by grabbing a camera. ?

Im interested in others opinions.

regards brian.

Now I've sold the Lumix I probably will. Kids birthdays etc I used to take that, hold it about chest height and have a quick glace now and then to make sure if I was videoing or taking a snap that they were in the frame.
Until I get used of live view on the 550D I will miss some things.
Today was my Granddaughter Leah's 2nd birthday. I took 92 pictures so it's safe to say a lot of the time I had one eye closed.
I done so many because my daughter in-law said to me please get as many as you can.

I would say we do lose something, but then we record the image of the occasion forever. I'd say it's trying to get the balance right.

I know where you're coming from Brian.

Whilst I normally have a camera with me - It's actually quite liberating when I don't as I can concentrate on what I should be doing rather than constantly thinking about the photography.

I tend to slip a compact camera into my pocket if I'm out with the family and take 'snaps' leaving my 'photography' for my own time when it doesn't ruin everybody elses enjoyment.

In terms of people wanting to record the moment - it never fails to amaze me when I'm at Old Trafford for the football or at music concerts - people seem more interested in capturing it on their phone or camera than they are in just embracing the atmosphere and enjoying the occasion.

must admit I have camera free days which I enjoy .
I once brought my self a video camera when I was drag racing and after two meets suddenly realised that I wasnt seeing any of the racing until I got home and watched it on the tv .
I think still cameras can be the same all though not quite as bad.

This last few months, I've been spending a lot of time out without using the camera - often without having it with me. I missed some wonderful opportunities - but I got to watch them properly, and they're still in my mind and memory. Such as last weekend, the otter that came up and was eating and watching us, less than a couple of feet away... would have been stunning shots, even with a short lens - but I didn't have my camera and I don't mind

xx

I'm all for liberation but I'd draw the line at that one

Cheers all, i appreciate what i call Kodak moments, seems to me if im sans camera a photo opportunity goes by. Of course these moments are fleeting, is the experience diminished by trying to grab an image, or just enjoying something never to repeated.. I guess my viewpoint is biased , still does not stop me trying to record an image, so should i be so judgmental of others who dont share my viewpoint.

Why do we take photographs ? for me it was to help with ID, and if im honest to prove i saw the species, at that time, of course photography is so much more than my strict limitations.

So what was it that first got us interested in capturing the moment ? and are we happy with our results. ?

Every weekend I take a walk with my husband and our three labs. I only see my husband on the weekends so I cherish our morning walks together. There have been so many times that my husband tells me that he saw deer or a huge red tail hawk and I always think, "go figure! I'm not there with my camera". But then there are those days that we walk together and I don't have my camera and finally...we see nature's best and I think...I would have been so focused on trying to picture it that I would have missed it. So am I glad that I leave my camera behind some days? Absolutely. There's just nothing like seeing it with your own eyes and being able to talk about it later or just reviewing the image that you have stored upstairs.

after 200 pictures up town Keona and her friend had enough they just wanted to look so now most of my pictures are candid
but still funny the way they took the mick...............

so now and then Keona says "are you taking your camera ?" which is a cue to leave it at home hahahaha

You have to remember Im not old skool like a lot of you on here. I only really got into it about 2 years ago. It's only been 4 months or so ago when I bought my first dslr
For me mossy I was an angler. The wildlife that was around me was amazing to say the least.
I did have a point and shoot with me most of the time to take pictures of species of fish.
But when I started to record amazing sunsets, wild foxes eating from me etc, I wanted to get more and more of these shots.


sarcasm face at its best.